Advent 2011: Hold the Gingerbread

When you enter a town and people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick, and say, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'

Luke 10:8-9

Food makes up a large part of our daily existence.  We use it for energy, satisfaction, sharing, giving, loving, pacifying and celebrating.  And, this is true around the world.  But, during a holiday season when so much of the focus is on food - whether cookies or punch - an allergic child can feel left out and miss out on experiences that unit groups.

This holiday, help your angel safely experience a tradition that is associated specifically with the Christmas season.... decorating gingerbread cookies.  In the US, it is a very commong tradition to bake cookies for gifts, parties, and swaps.  However, a cookie to my very allergic angel doesn't look much like other people's and no matter how delicious they are, not many are lining up to eat them!  My cookies just aren't those familiar peanut butter kiss cookies or frosted sugar reindeer... and they probably never will be.

So, help your angel get in on the action by making gifts to give your local senior citizens, neighbors, homeless or firemen.  By decorating paper gingerbread people or a professionally baked cookie, you can help your angel have the Christmas gingerbread cookie experience....safely!

Christmas Adventus Day 17:  Place a decorated paper gingerbrean man in advent bag #17.   Tonight we will be making paper gingerbread people to give to neighbors, friends and the elderly for Christmas.

 

Materials: brown construction paper, pencil, gingerbread shaped cookie cutter, scissors, small hole punch, 5 inches of 1/8" wide ribbon per gingerbread man, ricrac, buttons, sequins, small poms, glue

Instructions:

1. Place the cookie cutter on the brown construction paper and trace.
2. Cut out the gingerbread tracing and punch a hole in the top of the gingerbread man' head .
3. Thread a piece of ribbon through the hole and tie in a knot to make a loop for hanging the ornament.
4. Write "Merry Christmas!" on the back of each.  We printer labels with 1 Peter 1:8 on them and stuck one to the back of each ornament.
   “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now,
   you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” 1Peter 1:8
5. Decorate the front of the gingerbread man with the ricrac, buttons, sequins, and poms.
6. Have fun!
7. Give these to friends, neighbors, or the elderly to wish them a merry Christmas.

For more Gingerbread fun, visit our Christmas Adventus 2011 page.

For our other Advent activities, see "Christmas Adventus 2011: Celebrating Allergy-Free".